JEDDAH, 25 June — “Meetings are happy but partings are sad, but each parting paves the way for another meeting.” This was the general feeling of a group of distinguished people who gathered to bid farewell to Rasheed Ansari over the weekend. Ansari, whose letters were regularly published by English and Urdu dailies, is returning to Hyderabad after a three-decade stay in the Kingdom. “His letters always highlighted the issues of concern. In this endeavor he faced opposition at times but always fought back,” a speaker said at the meeting organized at Shadaab restaurant, which was presided by Mujahid Syed. People from all walks of life praised Ansari’s contribution to the Indian community. They felt Ansari’s absence would be felt, but hoped to meet this social activist through his contributions in different newspapers. Aleem Khan Falki welcomed the guests. Speakers included Aleem Siddiqui, Mujahid Syed, Naseem Sehr, Abdul Haq Hashim, Siadat Ali Khan, Siddiqui Raza and Athar Bayazid.
